Rechargeable Personal Care Charging Circuit for Efficient Partial Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal-care devices, such as electric toothbrushes, experience reduced charging efficiency as they charge beyond the maximum voltage, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage, particularly in wireless charging methods like resonance charging.
Innovation Solution
A personal-care device with a rechargeable energy storage system that includes a user-selectable charging mode allowing the battery to stop charging at a predetermined voltage lower than the maximum nominal voltage, preventing the transition to less efficient constant voltage charging stages, thereby optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the rechargeable energy storage is charged to the maximum voltage value, then the battery capacity is fully utilized, but the charging efficiency decreases due to transition to constant voltage charging stage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by intentionally stopping the charging process before the battery reaches its maximum voltage capacity. The charging is terminated at a predetermined voltage threshold that is lower than the maximum voltage, thereby avoiding the inefficient constant voltage charging stage while still providing sufficient battery capacity for the device's operational needs.
2Ease of operation
If wireless charging is used, then the convenience of charging is improved, but the energy loss increases due to reduced charging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter threshold at which charging is terminated. By setting a predetermined voltage threshold lower than the maximum voltage, the system optimizes the charging process to maintain higher efficiency throughout, thereby reducing energy loss while preserving the convenience of wireless charging.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the battery is charged to maximum voltage, then the usage time is extended, but the energy loss during charging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by terminating charging at a predetermined voltage threshold before maximum capacity is reached. This provides sufficient usage time for the device's operational requirements while avoiding the energy-inefficient constant voltage charging stage, thereby reducing overall energy loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal-care device has a rechargeable energy storage, a charging circuit for receiving energy from an external energy source and for charging the rechargeable energy storage, a first charging mode in which the rechargeable energy storage is charged to a predetermined maximum voltage value, and a user-selectable second charging mode in which the rechargeable energy storage is charged until the voltage at the rechargeable energy source has reached a first predetermined voltage value that is lower than the predetermined maximum voltage value. The present disclosure is also concerned with a system having such a personal-care device and a charger.